2022 Audi RS3 (8Y)

Audi RS3 Performance Edition first drive

You can understand Audi’s business case for not bringing this Performance Edition here. It’s impressive, but not sufficiently different to warrant the effort, and it’s also more money on what is already an expensive car. I admire companies for tweaking, almost just for the sake of it, but it is just that and not a fundamental rewrite of the formula.

 
Audi RS3 review

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?

“The third generation of Audi’s five-cylinder megahatch - and the best one yet. Although you’ll need to spend time getting the best out of it”

The best of the RS3 is buried under layers of customisable options, data and a capability in any conditions. The onus is on the driver to pick the right combination, which is a lot of pressure for both car and driver, but when you get there it’s brilliant. The RS3 is a really good car on the right kind of wrong road, and it’s usable for much more of the year than more exotic options.

So is this the best megahatch on the market? Well, the main competition comes from the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, a similarly speedy, similarly priced 400-ish bhp AWD hatchback. But they’re actually quite different. Where the Merc is angry and pointy and hard, the Audi is more cultured, better damped and much less aggressive. It’s certainly not slower though – and especially not on a bouncy B-road – this is probably as fast an A to B point car down an unknown road as you’re likely to get short of something with rally stickers and a roll cage.

It’s not as visceral as something like the Merc – despite being the same power and also AWD – but the fact that it feels like it’s more on your side makes it just as quick. You’ll feel like you’re going faster in the A45, but you probably aren’t. More than that though, the RS3 now feels like it’s starting to get really comfortable in its own skin; it’s a confident, worthwhile, capable car, with a side order of madness not far off. Just don’t spec it in Kyalami green.

 
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